For some people, summer isn’t always fun in the sun. In order to try to help people take care of themselves while school is out, we have created a list of fun ways to take care of your mental health this summer.  

If you are in need of extra help, always seek the aid of a trusted adult. But, for easy ideas to take care of yourself in general just read on, and the best way to do this is to simply ditch the couch and get outside or find ways to do something with friends.  

1. Try outdoor meditation or yoga. Yoga has been shown to lower stress hormones in our bodies while also tapping into some of our beneficial brain chemicals like endorphins and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which are all chemicals which will help our brains to decrease anxiety and improve our mood. 2
2. Go on a walk or hike. Similar to meditation and yoga, taking calm walks are a great way to release endorphins and lower stress levels. It also allows us to be physically active and helps lower the risk of clinical depression. Being in nature at all can also help to quiet your mind and give you some peace.3
3. Spend less time on your phone and spend more time with others in person. Being on your phone or social media too much can increase symptoms of anxiety and depression and will ultimately lead to a better quality of life. It will make you feel more relaxed and give you time to take in the world around you. 
4. Self-care. This is simply doing things that make you happy and improve your quality of life. It can improve your mental and physical health, as it lowers your stress levels and your risk of physical illness.  
5. Make a summertime playlist. Listening to music can be a fun and easy way to relax and rewind. Studies show that listening to music may be a resourceful technique to reduce anxiety, blood pressure, physical pains, and improve your sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory.